WASHINGTONSFAREWELLADDRESSTOTHEPEOPLEOFTHEUNITEDSTATES2ndSession106thcongressSenatedocumentno-106-21,Washington，2000WASHINGTONSFAREWELLADDRESSTOTHEPEOPLEOFTHEUNITEDSTATES2ndSession106thcongressSenatedocumentno-106-21，Washington，2000INTRODUCTIONPreparedbytheUnitedStatesSenateHistoricalOfficeInSeptember1796,wornoutbyburdensofthepresidencyandaofpoliticalfoes,GeorgeWashingtonannouncedhisdecisionnottoseekathirdterm.WiththeassistanceofAlexanderHamiltonandJamesMadison,WashingtoncomposedinaFarewellAddresshispoliticaltestamenttothenation.Designedtoinspireandguidefuturegenerations,theaddressalsosetforthWashingtonsdefenseofhisadministrationsrecordandembodiedaclassicstatementofFederalistdoctrine.Washingtonsprincipalconcernwasforthesafetyoftheeight-year-oldConstitution.HebelievedthatthestabilityoftheRepublicwasthreatenedbytheforcesofgeographicalsectionalism,politicalfactionalism,andinterferencebyforeignpowersinthenationsdomesticaffairs.HeurgedAmericanstosubordinatesectionaljealousiestocommonnationalinterests.Writingatatimebeforepoliticalpartieshadbecomeacceptedasvitalextraconstitutional,opinion-focusingagencies,Washingtonfearedthattheycarriedtheseedsofthenationsdestructionthroughpettyfactionalism.AlthoughWashingtonwasinnosensethefatherofAmericanisolationism,sinceherecognizedthenecessityoftemporaryassociationsforextraordinaryemergencies,hedidcounselagainsttheestablishmentofpermanentallianceswithothercountries,connectionsthathewarnedwouldinevitablybesubversiveofAmericasnationalinterest.WashingtondidnotpubliclydeliverhisFarewellAddress.ItfirstappearedonSeptember19,1796,inthePhiladelphiaDailyAmericanAdvertiserandtheninpapersaroundthecountry.InJanuary1862,withtheConstitutionendangeredbycivilwar,athousandcitizensofPhiladelphiapetitionedCongresstocommemoratetheforthcoming130thanniversaryofGeorgeWashingtonsbirthbyprovidingthattheFarewellAddressofWashingtonbereadaloudonthemorningofthatdayinoneortheotheroftheHousesofCongress.BothhousesagreedandassembledintheHouseofRepresentativeschamberonFebruary22,1862,whereSecretaryoftheSenateJohnW.ForneyrenderedTheFarewellAddressveryeffectively,asoneobserverrecalled.ThepracticeofreadingtheFarewellAddressdidnotimmediatelybecomeatradition.TheaddresswasfirstreadinregularlegislativesessionsoftheSenatein1888andtheHousein1899.(TheHousecontinuedthepracticeuntil1984.)Since1893theSenatehasobservedWashingtonsbirthdaybyselectingoneofitsmemberstoreadtheFarewellAddress.Theassignmentalternatesbetweenmembersofeachpoliticalparty.Attheconclusionofeachreading,theappointedsenatorinscribeshisorhernameandbriefremarksinablack,leatherboundbookmaintainedbythesecretaryoftheSenate.TheversionoftheaddressprintedhereistakenfromtheoriginalofthefinalmanuscriptintheNewYorkPublicLibraryprovidedcourtesyofThePapersofGeorgeWashington.Theonlychangeshavebeentomodernizespelling,capitalization,andpunctuation.WASHINGTONSFAREWELLADDRESSTothepeopleoftheUnitedStatesFriendsandFellow-Citizens:TheperiodforanewelectionofacitizentoadministertheexecutivegovernmentoftheUnitedStatesbeingnotfardistant,andthetimeactuallyarrivedwhenyourthoughtsmustbeemployedindesignatingthepersonwhoistobeclothedwiththatimportanttrust,itappearstomeproper,especiallyasitmayconducetoamoredistinctexpressionofthepublicvoice,thatIshouldnowappriseyouoftheresolutionIhaveformed,todeclinebeingconsideredamongthenumberofthoseoutofwhomachoiceistobemade.IbegyouatthesametimetodomethejusticetobeassuredthatthisresolutionhasnotbeentakenwithoutastrictregardtoalltheconsiderationsappertainingtotherelationwhichbindsadutifulcitiiWASHINGTONSFAREWELLADDRESSzentohiscountryandthat,inwithdrawingthetenderofservicewhichsilenceinmysituationmightimply,Iaminfluencedbynodiminutionofzealforyourfutureinterest,nodeficiencyofgratefulrespectforyourpastkindness,butamsupportedbyafullconvictionthatthestepiscompatiblewithboth.Theacceptanceof,andcontinuancehithertoin,theofficetowhichyoursuffrageshavetwicecalledmehavebeenauniformsacrificeofinclinationtotheopinionofdutyandtoadeferenceforwhatappearedtobeyourdesire.Iconstantlyhopedthatitwouldhavebeenmuchearlierinmypower,consistentlywithmotiveswhichIwasnotatlibertytodisregard,toreturntothatretirementfromwhichIhadbeenreluctantlydrawn.Thestrengthofmyinclinationtodothis,previoustothelastelection,hadevenledtothepreparationofanaddresstodeclareittoyou;butmaturereflectiononthethenperplexedandcriticalpostureofouraffairswithforeignnations,andtheunanimousadviceofpersonsentitledtomyconfidence,impelledmetoabandontheidea.Irejoicethatthestateofyourconcerns,externalaswellasinternal,nolongerrendersthepursuitofinclinationincompatiblewiththesentimentofdutyorproprietyandampersuaded,whateverpartialitymayberetainedformyservices,thatinthepresentcircumstancesofourcountryyouwillnotdisapprovemydeterminationtoretire.TheimpressionswithwhichIfirstundertookthearduoustrustwereexplainedontheproperoccasion.Inthedischargeofthistrust,IwillonlysaythatIhave,withgoodintentions,cont